27 Jan 2020
Coronavirus forces shut down of sports events and Bird's Nest Stadium
BY Tom Walker
International football, boxing and basketball events are among high profile sports events to have been cancelled in China, as authorities attempt to curb the spread of a virulent strain of the coronavirus.
Around 60 people have died and more than 2,000 have been infected by the virus in the country, prompting the government to issue curfews and other measures to avoid large numbers of people gathering together.
An Asian Football Confederation women's qualification tournament for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – scheduled to take place in Wuhan in early February – has been cancelled, as has an Olympic qualification boxing contest.
A Fed Cup tennis tournament, meant to take place in the city of Dongguan, has also been moved due to the outbreak.
A number of Chinese Super Cup football matches have also been postponed, as has the start of the Chinese Basketball League.
In addition, the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium in the capital city Beijing is among the public buildings to have been closed as a precaution.
The cancellation of sports events comes as some of China's most popular attractions were forced to close as part of attempts to stop the spread of the virus.
Beijing's Palace Museum – also known as the Forbidden City – and the Shanghai Disney Resort are the highest-profile sites that have announced they will close.
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